Hagerty's series on making your classic car more reliable.

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick owners who don't want to be stuck by the side of the road,

Hagerty's has a new series on how to keep your classic more road-worthy.  In total there are eight installments that cover six systems that commonly fail:


• How to make your classic car dependable: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/03/28/make-your-classic-dependable
• How to make your classic car’s ignition system dependable: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/04/04/dependable-ignition-system
• How to make your classic car’s fuel delivery system dependable: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/04/11/dependable-fuel-system
• Make your classic car’s cooling system dependable: https://www.hagerty.com/Articles-Videos/Articles/2017/04/18/dependable-cooling-system
• Make your classic car’s charging system reliable, part one: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/04/25/reliable-charging-system
• How to make your classic car’s charging system dependable, part two: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/05/02/reliable-charging-system-pt2
• Ensure your classic car’s belts are dependable: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/05/09/classic-car-belts
• Ensure your classic car’s ball joints are dependable: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/05/16/dependable-ball-joints

There isn't any closely guarded secrets here, but there is some good advice.

Cheers, Edouard

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,

The third installment in this Hagerty's series on making your classic car more reliable is out and covers the fuel system.

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/04/11/dependable-fuel-system

These are good thorough overviews of what needs to be done.  Definitely worth the read.

Cheers, Edouard

P.S. Link to third installment also added to start of thread.

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,

The fourth installment in this Hagerty's series on making your classic car more reliable is out and covers the cooling system.

https://www.hagerty.com/Articles-Videos/Articles/2017/04/18/dependable-cooling-system

Cheers, Edouard

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers,

The final two installments in this Hagerty's series on making your classic car more reliable is out and cover the charging system in two parts:.

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/04/25/reliable-charging-system

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/05/02/reliable-charging-system-pt2

All six installments are now listed in the initial post of this thread.

Cheers, Edouard

[GS66]

Just finished replacing the voltage regulator on the '57 Dodge as it had croaked.

[elagache]

Dear Jim and md-60s Buick electricians, . .

Just finished replacing the voltage regulator on the '57 Dodge as it had croaked.

Yup, I replaced that part on my trusty wagon at least once!  It was a bit of a shock because I didn't even know there was such a thing! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[WkillGS]

.....
The final two installments in this Hagerty's series on making your classic car more reliable is out and cover the charging system in two parts:.

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/04/25/reliable-charging-system
......

I like that voltmeter that plugs into the cigarette lighter!
Great for occasional use if you don't want a permanent under-dash gauge.
They're under 10 bucks on Amazon. Other versions have a usb port and/or temperature display.

[elagache]

Dear Walt and mid-60s Buick electricians,

I like that voltmeter that plugs into the cigarette lighter!
Great for occasional use if you don't want a permanent under-dash gauge.
They're under 10 bucks on Amazon. Other versions have a usb port and/or temperature display.

Golly, I just looked up "cigarette lighter voltage meters" on Amazon and the list seems endless!  This link might bring up roughly the same list:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_21?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cigarette+lighter+voltage+meter

I have the traditional triplet of gauges in my trusty wagon, so I didn't see the need to have one of these.  Charging problems are rare in modern cars.  Still, for the price, perhaps it is worth picking up one of these for that unexpected situation.

Thanks for pointing this out!

Cheers, Edouard

[WkillGS]

Amazon is the new JC Whitney!

[elagache]

Dear Walt and mid-60s Buick "sinners" at discount auto parts places,

Amazon is the new JC Whitney!

. . . . Oh da' shame!  I must confess that I once purchased - many - things from JC Whitney! 

Some weren't too bad.  The first electronic ignition system my wagon had came from JC Whitney.  If I recall correctly it lasted 15 years or more.  I bought my first Custom Autosound stereo through JC Whitney.  I also bought the 4 ohm speaker bar from JC Whitney that fried same stereo. . . 

I'm still on their email list - I just don't open those emails!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[campfamily]

Why be embarrassed that you have shopped at JC Whitney? JC Whitney used to represent reasonable quality parts and tools at a low price. Now they've changed, and it's lower (usually Chinese) quality stuff, kind of like the Harbor Freight of car parts, but even so, if you're selective, there is nothing wrong with JC Whitney.

Keith

[elagache]

Dear Keith and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Why be embarrassed that you have shopped at JC Whitney?

. . . Well, it isn't like you know what I was buying at J.C. Whitney!! . . .

JC Whitney used to represent reasonable quality parts and tools at a low price. Now they've changed, and it's lower (usually Chinese) quality stuff, kind of like the Harbor Freight of car parts, but even so, if you're selective, there is nothing wrong with JC Whitney.

Honestly, I just haven't kept up with them.  There was a time when they had more stuff for a "mature" car.  When my wagon moved from being just a bit "old" to really being a classic, J.C. Whitney wasn't providing that may items that really would fit.  Nor did they have all that much for our modern cars.  So my focus shifted and eventually they stopped sending me their printed catalog.  Perhaps I should ask for a new one just to see.

Cheers, Edouard

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick mechanics,

Hagerty's doesn't seem to be able to count.  There were only supposed to be 6 installments in this series, but here is another one on belts:

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2017/05/09/classic-car-belts

I've added to the first post as usual.

Cheers, Edouard

[cwmcobra]

And apparently, there are more to come.  At the end of this piece on belts is the following: (Next week: Ball joints.)

But, who's counting???   

 

Chuck

[GS66]

I always check the car over good before each Power Tour, especailly belts, hoses, brakes, lights, and tires.